Eagle Byzantium

On the designated days, the entire pilgrim team, approximately 80,000 people, formed a long queue, once again singing praises to "Holy Apostle Roman Emperor Alexius", holding candles, crosses and various colorful flag, carrying luggage and The canvas tents marched from Salabria to the gate of St. Atkins, and finally arrived at the Juquintina Palace and the surrounding towers for camping. All the tents stretched along here to the seaside. After traveling for thirty kilometers, the momentum was very huge.

After the Red Hand Dalian team settled in the new camp, Gawain lazily rested his head on his hands and lay on the simple couch, looking at the lights hanging on the tent poles in a trance, and then tilted his head to see Looking at the golden edict on the table in front of him, it contained the emperor's representations to him, as well as The emperor's appointment of his official title and the emperor's instructions for his subsequent actions were piled up several times. Gawain blinked and thought about it for a while, then turned it over again, thoughtfully, and then put his hand on his head. Then he pulled it out, placed it on his chest and tapped it gently, while he kept mumbling.

The Patriarch's mind was so disturbed since his return from Brachna Palace that when he handed over Breanus, he did not go there in person, but only handed the matter over to his deputy Melo Go and do it.

In this way, the third glorious man of the empire, the future husband of Princess Anna, was released by the Red Hand Company. Brenus happily entered the original camp under the protection of the captain and Titicius, and meditated. Waiting for the emperor's call before Christmas to complete the grand wedding with Anna.

For this reason, the whole of Constantinople was busy, and the emperor, who was busy with everything, was no exception. He summoned the court officials and eunuchs in charge of the ceremony many times, and constantly issued new instructions. He hoped that the wedding ceremony of his eldest daughter would be held To perfection, to show the glory of the entire empire. "Send the letter quickly to His Excellency Raymond, the Duke of Toulouse, three hundred miles away. He is my good friend. I must invite him to come as soon as possible to attend Anna's wedding."

Of course, the emperor also had the idea of ​​​​bribing Raymond to contain Godfrey and Bohemond. After Gawain promised to marry his youngest daughter Dido, he also bought the Normans from Apulia. The leader Bohemond was released.

This one rode into his camp with a gloomy expression. The first thing he said to Tancred was, "We have been tricked by the treacherous Greek emperor again."

"Could it be related to Gawain?" Tancred instinctively sensed the reversal of the situation.

Bohemond did not answer at first, but took a sip of sweet wine from his gold cup studded with diamonds, drank it with a slurp, and then became angry. "Appointed me as Commander-in-Chief of Asia, but appointed Gawain as Commander-in-Chief of the March in Asia; appointed me as Grand Duke of Anatolia, but appointed Gawain as Grand Duke of Armenia; and asked Gawain to introduce Godfrey, Baldwin and others , also accepted his canonization. In addition, the emperor also said that he would give his own child. Promising your daughter to Gawain, but not granting these honors and titles to you, means that the great cause of the Normans' founding of the country will be hindered by Gawain - this is the method of the Greek emperor, which is very despicable and full of corruption. This is the style of this country, which has always used money, weird official titles, and women as weapons.”

"Sooner or later we will kill him. And remove the emperor of Greece." When Tancred heard this, he was furious and swore, "Whoever comes to obstruct our country will be eliminated without hesitation!"

"Yes, the door to heaven is open, but it doesn't care about our Tver family's affairs. Who cares about what's happening there? We are only responsible for sending our opponents to hell." Bohemond tilted his neck again and drank a glass of wine. , murderous aura and blood surged from his face, making his beard and hair appear even redder. "Cross the sea now. The emperor will always provide us with ships. Go to the Nicomedia area to build a camp. In the coming spring, the Normans will become the vanguard and the biggest profiteer in conquering Asia."

Just as the Norman army began to cross the sea, everyone in the Frankish pilgrim camp clapped their hands and cheered, running out of the tents, chattering, and surrounding the emperor's purple royal flag, from Brahe The envoys who came out of the palace were composed of four dignitaries. They were composed of characters, followed by escorts from the palace, with many vehicles sandwiched in between. Then they placed the vehicles in the most eye-catching place in the center of the camp, and then pulled off the ties on them - countless golden and silver coins. , appeared before the eyes of all pilgrim soldiers and civilians.

"This is a gift given to everyone by His Majesty, the extremely generous and extremely wealthy Roman Emperor. Come and get it. Your Majesty's money is inexhaustible!" The four noble envoys opened their arms, enthusiastic and pious. Saying these words.

The pilgrims rushed over, lying on the vehicles, and some got under the vehicles, grabbing the coins sent by Alexios. Many people pushed and fought with each other in order to grab a good gold coin. More people, grateful and grateful, prostrated themselves at the feet of the emperor's officials with fear and fear, loudly praising the emperor's majesty and virtues, and trembling and admiring the wealth of this empire.

"Poor people, you can rely on Your Majesty at any time as long as you are willing. The money in his treasury is like the ocean beside this city, which will never be exhausted." At this time, the imperial officials were very proud. , said this to the pilgrims.

Beside the wooden fence of the Dalian team's camp, Bramson was leaning on it with his sword on his back, looking at this scene with disdain and laziness in his eyes, which puzzled Wright next to him, "It's really strange, it's just like... It’s so strange to hear the nightingale singing at sunrise—you don’t even look envious of the money.”

On the other hand, Giovanni laughed when he heard this, "Although this poor German settler regards money as his life, he will not rush for impossible money. This guy still has a bit of IQ."

"Didn't the emperor give countless coins to the pilgrims?"

Bramson pointed, and Wright saw that at St. Atkins Gate and Varangian Camp City, the emperor had sent countless official merchants, where all kinds of supplies were piled up: wine, grain, Caviar, silk, linen, etc., and even women to relieve their fatigue.

Pilgrims who came to visit also queued up for several miles.

At this time, Wright understood immediately, "So, I know the secret of the emperor's inexhaustible money. He first gave the pilgrims a lot of money, and then asked the pilgrims to use the money to buy supplies. In this way The coins will naturally be returned to the emperor's treasury at night."

"Not only that, the emperor can also take the opportunity to sell off the backlog of things in the capital. For example, the price of delicious caviar has been raised to three times the previous price, and the price of wine is four to five times." Bramson yawned, "Then, the emperor will collect transaction taxes from the merchants. I am afraid that three thousand to five thousand solid gold coins will be received in one day. After we cross the strait, the Greek merchants will probably follow us with the army. ”

Wright clicked his tongue in amazement. With such a complex and exquisite technique, the emperor's ability and city government should not be underestimated: when Hungary and other kingdoms regarded the pilgrim army as a locust plague, Alexios not only used political and military methods to , calmed their restlessness, and also used this group of people to prosper and stimulate Constantinople's business, allowing the royal family to receive additional income, and greatly increasing the emperor's supreme power in the eyes of the pilgrims. status.

"The hermit has arrived, and the hermit has been released!" The three people turned around at the same time and saw Muzafi Adin, the military servant of the Asia March Commander, jumping with joy and waving his dark red Turkic turban. , walked through the entire camp, shouting in Turkic and unfamiliar Greek, Then many soldiers from the Dalian Company came out. Sure enough, Peter, who was wearing a black robe and leaning on a cane, staggered behind Muzaffy-Addin. He was not only Gawain's, but also the baptizer of the entire Dalian Company. : Immediately hundreds of soldiers shouted his father's name, and Luo Bai was surrounding him.

But Gawain in the tent seemed not to hear the loud noise outside, and was still tossing and turning there, until the tent door was opened, Peter stepped in nervously, and pulled Gawain up from the couch.

"Sworn brother?" Gawain's eyes were still a little confused.

"Don't think about anything else. Your large company must be mobilized quickly to rescue the pilgrims near Nicaea. There are a total of 70,000 people who have been taken for granted by the two idiots Forcher and Reynold. I can guess that they are currently suffering from the ruthless attack of Konya Sultan for their sacrifice and bargaining chip to flatter Emperor Komnenos!"

"But......"

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Peter grabbed Gawain's shoulders anxiously and heartbrokenly, "I can't count on Emperor Comnenus, Norman Bohemond, and Godfrey, although this is easy for them. These dignitaries People will not care about the group of pilgrims I summoned In their eyes, seventy thousand people are despicable people, like ants and mustards. But in this great expedition, all pilgrims should be saved, regardless of their status. Gawain, you will be rescued. You will get what you deserve from your righteous deeds.”

But Gawain, in turn, grabbed the hermit's shoulder. His tone was confused and restless, "Brother, I am willing to raise the battle flag and do anything to keep my promise to you, but before I cross the sea, I , but there is a huge depression in my heart that has not been resolved.”

"Why don't you confess to the Lord?"

"Lord? The Lord has so far not given me a direction for the confusion in my heart, not even the devil. I need to make up my own mind so that I can embark on the journey without hindrance."

"This is an adventure? A bigger adventure than going to the Holy Sepulchre, isn't it?"

Gawain nodded heavily.

"Then don't hesitate to do it. Even the emperor will not stop your steps. Have you lost this confidence?" Peter immediately encouraged him with certainty. (To be continued ~^~)